CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15669, 6 June 1916, Page 10

CITY COUNCIL.

! LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. Tiie- fortnishtly mooting or the Christchurch. City Council was hold Inst night. Present —ILis "Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) and Councillors J. R. Hayward, J. Reynolds, Geo. Scott, J. 0. Jameson. A. "Williams. A. S. Taylor, F. Bnrgomo, J. "W. Beanland, "W. Miller, E. Peek. H. F. Herbert. W. H. 1 Cooper, and D. G. Stillivaa. It this docided to hold a special meeting next Council night to elect seven I representatives on the Board of the j Cliristchurch Technical College. ! The Christ-church Beautifying Assoi ciation requested the Council to appoint representatives to meet the Association at the Art Gallery on June 12th. to consider the designs for iiu- • proving the Square. It was deckled to accede to the request and appoint the M,nyor and chairmen of committees. CEMETERY MATTERS. It was reported that Hie proposed new cemetery at Bromley should be ready not later than a year from now. The city surveyor had been instructed to prepare a plan of the proposed layout. As thero would soon be a shortage of burial plots in the Sydenham Cemetery, the committee had given instructions to take in and subdivide a portion of the cemetery on the south side, now used as a paddock. FISH SUPPLY. The Abattoir, Markets, and Reserves Committee reported tha£ it had had a conference with a number of representative fish retailers, and obtained a quantity of valuablo evidence from them. It load arrived at the opinion that it eannot recommend the Council to establish a fish market at present. All tho experts interviewed stated that there was a supply of good, cheap fish when the weather conditions were favourable for fishing, and all asrreed that tho wholesale market on Moorhouse avenue was fairly conducted. The demand for fish was not, so good when fish was plentiful, and it frequently happened that a Quantity of good, cheat) fish had to be destroyed for want of buyers, as frozen fish was not in demand. The evidence obtained was practically unanimous, and 1 the committee stated that it could como to no other conclusion. Tho report was adopted. I LIGHTING COMMITTEE. The Electric Light and Power Committee's report stated that tho city electrical engineer had had an onquiry from tho ' Public "Works Department with a view to the purchase of one of the 100 k.w. steam generators. As he had no use for them now, he had been authorised to sell them. The one enquired for was wanted for the military camp at, Trentliam. Owing to tho way in which the various electrical departments were scattered, the telephonic arrangements were found extremely inconvenient, and the committee had decided to install a communication system between the departments. Tho cost of installation would bo about £24, and the annual fee about £06, as against £48 at present. An operator would also be necessary, who would be a junior at 2-5s per week, fhe committee reported that the first automatic increase of £50 per annum in terms of tho electrical engineer's agreement was payable from April Ist last. Tho engineer reported that there were several consumers outsfi(3 the direct current area who were objecting to change over to the alternating current unless the Council bore the whole cost. This tho committee was not prepared to accede to. The committee recommended that the area bounded by Lichfield street, Madras street, Armagh street, and Montreal street be proclaimed the exclusive direct current area, and that consumers desiring direct current outsido that area be charged at the rate of 3d per unit for power and 6d per unit for lighting. Regarding tho Patriotic Fund Queen Election Committee's request for free lighting and uso of the fittings in connexion with tho crowning ceremony ii King Edward Barracks on April 29th and May Ist, the committee found that the cost amounted to £42, and regretted that the Electric Light Department could not soe its way to make tho grant. The contract with the Spreydon Borough Council had been duly executed by both parties. A motion to allow the Patriotic Fund Queen Election Committco a 50 per cent, rebate on tho charge for lighting at the King Edward Barracks wa» lost. Cr. Scott protested against the proclaiming of the specified area as an'oxclusive direct current area, which, he contended, was a breach of faith with the consumers. The report was adopted. AN AUDIT MATTER. Cr. iSdott hioved(l) "That the Council appoint an outside authorised auditor, who shall make monthly and yearly audits of tho installation and retail electrical departmental accounts, and furnish same regularly to the Finance Committee." > (2) ''That the Council appoint an outside authorised auditor, who shall make monthly and yearly audits of the electrical distribution accounts/and furnish same regularly to the Finance Committee." Resolution No. 1 lapsed for want of a seconder, and Cr. Sullivan seconded the second pr 0 forma, to enable Cr. A. S. Taylor, chairman of the Electrical Committee, to make a statement. (Jr. Taylor said he should not like the bare motions to go forth, as it might lead the public to misapprehend the position. The accounts were subject to Government audit, and the auditors camo in at least twice a year, as thf work was of such magnitude that it was necessary. The motions, lie thought, refloctcd upon the Govpfiimcnt Audit Department as well as the Council's officers, and he considered that the deductions to be drawn from them were that the accounts were cither badly kept or so manipulated as to show to_ the public a false statement of affair"?. The Council complied strictlv ;vith the regulation laid down in tho Municipal Corporations Act, and the passing of the resolution would not only invoive the Council in great expense, but it would cast reflections on tho Council s staff, which was an excellent cne. The motions were lost. THE BATHS COMMITTEE. Crs. Hayward and Taylor were appointed to the Baths and Entertainment Committee, to fill the two vacancies caused by resignations. ALDWIX'S ROAD. Cr. Herbert moved that thrco delegates should be appointed to confer with the "Woolston JBorough Council on the subject of widening Aldwin's road. It -was a mistake on tho part of thei city to allow building up to the present street line. ~ After some discussion it was decided to defer action until the Finance Committee had reported on the matter.